The Samson S-Amp provides an elegant solution for headphone monitoring, either on stage or in the studio

S-Amp provides an elegant solution for headphone monitoring, either on stage or in the studio. The S amp is a specially designed headphone amplifier that allows you to control the level balance between four sets of headphones. Providing unusually high power levels and superb audio fidelity, the S amp is compatible with virtually all popular headphone models.

And just because this unit is miniature, don’t be surprised with its great sound and reliability, thanks to the use of high quality components and solid build construction.

I have used this product in my mobile recording studio (business). It's compact and easy-to-use. I don't like the fact that it doesn't have a power switch, but that is common at this price point for these headphone amps. Plenty of volume available if you send it good, strong signal.

The performance of the unit is great. I did an A/B comparison between the original (input) signal and the amplified, split signal (output) from the SAMP. The results were not surprising - the SAMP provided fine sound, loud and clear, but lacking the real definition of the original signal. The Signal to Noise ratio is lower, which is to be expected. Basically, the unit does not destroy the sound when it splits it, although it does change it a little.

They perform great for what they need to do - give a monitor reference to the musicians that I work with. If you're looking for something that sounds cleaner or has more volume/features, you're probably going to need a rack mount unit.

A few things to keep in mind if you buy:1. Make sure you plug in a stereo 1/4" (TRS) cable to the input, and send a stereo signal. If you don't, you will experience single-ear output.

2. Make sure you are sending lots of signal to the box. It will amplify it, that's true, but you will reduce the amount of noise introduced into the output signal (by the SAMP) if you have a good, strong signal as input. Of course, if you have distortion or you can't turn the output up past notch 2 without blowing up your ears, you should back off the input. :)

It does what it said it doesYou basically have 1 stereo input and 4 stereo output. each knob can individually control volume.ALL THE IDIOTS THAT SAYS THEY ONLY HEAR 1 SIDE OR BUZZ. [*] YOU NEED TO USE STEREO INPUT IN ORDER TO GET STEREO OUT. SO STOP COMPLAINING.

Bad connections and sound quality, on original unit and replacement: The sound would only come out of one ear on the headphones when plugged all the way in. If you jiggled it around a bit in the middle, you could get it to work out of both for a time (just so long as you stand perfectly still and don't touch the wire). The sound from the bass got distorted and crackly; it sounded fine when the headphones were plugged directly into the mixer, so it is definitely the failing of the Samson S-amp to split the signal. I was hoping for a simple headphone amp for our band to use in order to practice silently, but ended up with a shoddy one that I will be returning a second time, for a refund.

"THE S AMP IS GREAT FOR THE MONEY, ITS' SMALL. LETS ME DO WHAT I NEED TO DO ON STAGE. I DONT HAVE TO SPEAK TO MY SOUND GUY FOR EVERY LITTLE THING. I CAN PLAY MY KEYS AND HEAR MY VOICE OVER THE DRUMER."